Chittenden South Supervisory Union
Teachers Negotiations Update
January 21, 2011

The January 20 meeting between the teachers' union and the CSSU negotiating team did not result in an agreement. The CSSU district provided this information about the current status of teacher negotiations:

The Boards of the Chittenden South Supervisory Union believe they have a responsibility to keep the communities of Charlotte, Hinesburg, Shelburne, Williston and St. George updated regarding the negotiation process for a successor contract for the Teachers employed within CSSU.

On January 20, 2011, the Board and Teachers Negotiation teams met in an ongoing effort by both sides to agree to terms to a successor agreement to the contract that continues to cover the Teachers until negotiations are concluded. While the parties have reached a number of tentative agreements, including expanding an existing severance pay article to make it available to all CSSU teachers, the Association rejected the Board’s last offer and walked away from the negotiation table. At that time, parties had the following proposals on the table:

Issue: Salary Increase*, Year One:
Fact Finder’s Recommendation: Step Only, (1.86% New Money)
Board Last Offer on 1/20/2011: Step Only, (2% New Money) - (1.86% to fund the cost of step movement for eligible teachers; $300 one-time payment for teachers not eligible for step movement).
Association Last Offer on 1/20/2011: Add steps to salary schedule so all teachers receive step increases; 3.11% New Money

Salary Increase**, Year Two:
Fact Finder: Did not offer recommendation
Board: 3% New Money; proposed method of distribution would favor teachers not eligible for step movement the prior year
Association: 3% New Money

Issue: Board/Teachers Contribution to Health Insurance, Year One:
Fact Finder: Increase from 12% to 13% (starting July 1, 2010)
Board: Increase Teacher contribution from 12% to 13% starting January 1, 2011
Association: Increase Teacher contribution from 12% to 13% starting February 1, 2011

Board/Teachers Contribution to Health Insurance, Year Two:
Fact Finder: Did not offer recommendation
Board: Increase Teacher contribution from 13% to 15% starting July 1, 2011
Association:Teacher continues to pay 13% of premium costs

Issue: Steps and Agency Fee
Board Proposal: No Automatic Pay Increases/Steps when contract is still being negotiated. Association Proposal: Agency Fee
Fact Finder: Rejected both the Board’s and the Association’s Negotiation Teams Proposals
Board: The Board offered to agree to an Agency Fee in year 2 if the Association would agree to no automatic pay increases while contract negotiations are ongoing.
Association: The Association rejected the Board’s compromise and withdrew its request for agency fee, contingent on Board withdrawing its proposal on automatic step movement.

* The difference between the Teachers’ association salary proposal and the Board’s position and the fact finder’s recommendation is approximately $300,000 for the first year across all schools.

**The Boards continue to have 2% new money as a budget assumption. If 3% new money is approved for the second year of the contract, reductions will be made in other areas, including but not limited to reductions in staff, increased class sizes and reductions in other services to cover the additional 1% of new money as needed.

At this point, the Board believes that its proposal is a fair one and has notified the Association that it has until Monday, January 31, 2011 to accept the Board’s two year offer, as outlined above, or make a reasonable counter offer. If the Board’s offer is not accepted, or if a reasonable counter proposal which the Board can accept is not received, the Board believes it has no other alternative but exercise its statutory authority to impose a one year agreement and complete the process. Should that occur the parties will be obligated to immediately commence negotiations for an Agreement for the 2011-2012 school year.

Citizens are invited to call or email their Board representatives with input on the points and positions outlined herein, or questions regarding negotiations in general.